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“That’s so cool. How’s it different from your other beers?”
“It’s a Berliner-style Weisse wheat beer, and we’ve infused it with rose hips to give it a hint of unique, sweet and tarty flavor.”
“Wow, I have no idea what any of that means,” she says, looking over her shoulder at me. Her wide hazel eyes are so pretty, so clear and sparkly. And her lips, curved up in an easy smile, are the most tempting thing I’ve ever seen.
My hooves click against the tiled floor as I shift from foot to foot. “It means I sound like one of those annoying craft-beer nerds who talk over people’s heads.”
The giggle she makes is light and effortless. “Well, you are literally talking over my head, because you’re so tall. But I didn’t take it in a condescending way at all. You sound like someone who’s really into the product they’re creating. I’m the same way when I’m in a good creative groove.”
“I look forward to hearing you talk about your work.”
Her happy glow fades. “Well, lately, everything feels more like work than good creativity, so you may have to wait a while.”
The urge to tell her we have all the time in the world teeters on the tip of my tongue. Instead, I go with, “Maybe the change of scenery will spark things for you. If not the mountain landscapes, then all the colorful monsters. Like Dak, for example.” I tilt my head toward the living room.
She laughs softly, covering her mouth.
If we were alone, I’d take her hand away so I could see the smile she’s hiding. Hear her laughter unmuted. We’ll get there. I know we will. “Want to be my first non-employee taste tester?” I point at the plain white can again. “If you don’t like it, you can dump it and get something else.”
“You can’t count my opinion because I’m not much of a drinker in general, and definitely not a beer connoisseur, but I’d love to try it.”
Leaning in to get the can is an excuse to press my chest to her back. To breathe her in from close up. There’s no stopping the huff of breath I make or the wild swishing of my tail. I’m rock-hard for her and I’m sure she feels my cock against her lower back.
She doesn’t move away though. The opposite. She leans against me, presses more of her small, delicate body to mine. “Are we still mutually promising nothing will happen between us tonight?”
“We probably should,” I say, grazing the shell of her ear as I force myself to do the right thing. “I don’t want you to wake up with regrets.”
Looking deep into my eyes, a sigh leaves her rosy lips. “I wouldn’t regret being with you, but I would regret it if I hurt you.”
“You won’t.” I cup her chin and sweep the pad of my thumb over her soft skin.
“Ahem…” Rosetta calls from the living room. “We’re still here, you know. And we’re thirsty. Though clearly not as thirsty as the two of you…”
Shaking her head, Natalie ducks out from in front of me to look directly at her cousin. “It’s good to know that true love and fresh mountain air hasn’t changed you.”
“Oh, it has,” Rosetta counters, pushing up to her knees and hanging over the back of the couch. “But you’re never going to know how if you don’t stop flirting with the Minotaur and get over here so we can talk.”
“Go join them. I’ll bring the drinks over.”
NATALIE
I should want to throttle Ro for the embarrassing comments, but there’s not a lick of anger in me. Despite the fire raging beneath my cheeks, I’m not truly embarrassed either. I can give her a little shit, though. The world wouldn’t be right if I didn’t.
“Hey, brat,” I say, dropping onto the couch, facing her. That’s the extent of my giving her shit. As soon as I hug her, all I have are sappy feelings. “I’ve missed you.”
“Ditto, snore.”
Tears prick in my eyes at the use of our younger-years’ nicknames for each other.
Squeezing me tight, Ro whispers, “I know it’s selfish, but I hope you fall in love with him and decide to stay.”
It wouldn’t take much to fall for him. Heck, it’s already happening. Which is bonkers and unlike me. I need to slow down. I just don’t want to. “Let’s focus on making the most of the next couple weeks.”
“Right, of course. We’re going to have so much fun, I promise.” Her nose is rosy and her eyes are glassy when she sits back. Ro’s not the weepy type. Her red hair bounces wildly as she shakes her head. Then her usual sassy expression is back. “Introduction time!”
Aside from wrapping his massive arms around her, the orc beside her doesn’t react when she climbs onto his lap, wiggling and grinding as she makes herself comfy. Now that I’m truly face-to-face with her fiancé, there’s no denying that he is, in fact, an orc.
“Dak, this is Nat. Nat, Dak.”
